La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra Returns to Springtime Performances with ‘Il Trittico’

On March 15, 2022, La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra will Puccini’s “Il Trittico” as part of their yearly tradition of springtime performances. Director Tobias Kratzer and conductor Alain Altinoglu lead the casts of their respective works. “Il Tabarro” will feature Peter Kalman as Michele, Corrine Winters/Lianna Haroutounian as Giorgetta, and Adam Smith as Luigi/Amante. The cast of “Suor Angelica” includes Winters/Haroutounian {…}

Jan 26, 2022

Mark Padmore & Simon Lepper to Headline Recital at La Monnaie / De Munt

(Credit: Moreno Gardenghi) La Monnaie / De Munt is set to present a recital featuring tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Simon Lepper this February. The showcase, which is set for Feb. 7, 2022, will feature a wide range of music by such composers as Gabriel Fauré, Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gerald Finzi, Charles Ives, Reynaldo Hahn, Rebecca {…}

Jan 19, 2022

Michael Fabiano & Cast of Canceled Monnaie ‘Carmen’ Pen Open Letter to Belgium’s Prime Minister

The cast of the now-canceled production of “Carmen” at La Monnaie has written an open letter to the Prime Minister of Belgium. The letter, penned by tenor Michael Fabiano and co-signed by other cast members, placed the blame for La Monnaie’s closure on the government and noted that the decision to limit theaters to just 200 people at a time {…}

Jan 13, 2022

La Monnaie / De Munt Cancels 12 Performances of ‘Carmen’

La Monnaie / de Munt has announced the cancelation of its 12 performances of “Carmen.” The company noted that the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 forced the company to only be able to perform for 200 people. Unfortunately, as per an official statement, that would result in the loss of 900,000€. “Add to this the fact that we {…}

Jan 3, 2022

Sally Matthews, Enea Scala, Michele Pertusi & Raffaella Lupinacci Highlight Stream of ‘Norma’ From La Monnaie

(Credit: Karl Forster) Belgian opera house La Monnaie has announced that it will stream a production of Bellini’s “Norma” on its website starting Jan. 11, 2022. The stream will be available until Feb. 22, 2022. The opera stars Enea Scala in the role of Pollione, Michele Pertusi as Oroveso, Raffaella Lupinacci as Adalgisa, and Sally Matthews in the title role. {…}

Dec 30, 2021

Belgian Government Reopens Theaters Following Council of State’s Ruling

(Credit: Johan Jacobs) The government of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has officially reopened theaters following a decision by the Council of State. Using an emergency procedure, the Council of State ruled that the government’s closure measures were not proportionate, and didn’t provide enough motives to understand why attending cultural performances was particularly dangerous for public health. Per the {…}

Dec 22, 2021

Barbara Hannigan, Natascha Petrinsky & Bo Skovhus Lead La Monnaie’s Free Stream of ‘Lulu’

(Credit: Simon Van Rompay) La Monnaie Opera House in Brussels will stream Alban Berg’s opera “Lulu” until Jan. 24, 2022. The opera stars Natascha Petrinsky as Gräfin Geschwitz; Bo Skovhus in the roles of Dr. Schön & Jack The Ripper; Toby Spence as Alwa; Pavlo Hunka as Schigolch; and Barbara Hannigan in the title role. The cast also includes Lilly {…}

Dec 4, 2021

Cultural Institutions in Belgium Express Angst Over Latest Restrictions by the Government

(Credit: Visit Brussels) Several cultural institutions in Belgium issued a joint statement following the decision of the government of Belgium to limit seating capacity to 200 spectators. The statement was signed by the General and Artistic Director of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie Peter de Caluwe; General Director of Bozar Sophie Lauwers; Intendant de l’Orchestre National de Belgique Hans {…}

Dec 4, 2021

Government of Belgium Limits Seating Capacity in Theaters

(Credit: La Monnaie official website) Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège has announced that its seating capacity has been limited to 200 spectators due to ongoing COVID-19 circumstances. “Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège has learned with amazement and disbelief of the decisions of the Cultural Committee that set the limitation of seating capacity to 200 people, which will be applicable from Monday December {…}

Nov 23, 2021

Sally Matthews Leads La Monnaie’s ‘Norma’ Production

La Monnaie in Belgium is set to open a new production of Bellini’s “Norma.” The production, which will be directed by Christophe Coppens, contrasts the extraordinarily beautiful melodies in this story of an impossible love triangle with a grey world of concrete, and makes the impossible passions part of an acrid identity crisis. Sally Matthews will sing the title role {…}

Nov 12, 2021

Ludovic Morlot Appointed New Principal Conductor of Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalonia

(Credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco) The Governing Council of the Consorci de L’Auditori i l’Orquestra approved the proposal put forward by the Director of L’Auditori, Robert Brufau to appoint Ludovic Morlot as the new Music Director of the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya. “With Ludovic Morlot at the helm, the OBC reaches an international level and will defend the {…}

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